Real Estate Information Archive

Saving money on a summer vacation used to be a matter of personal discretion. Today, it’s a science, part of a massive U.S. travel-advice industry with thousands of analysts, organizations, publications and websites.

“The bad economy has cut into household travel budgets, and more people are staying closer to home, but this is actually a great time to save,” said Los Angeles-based travel consultant Mark Katz. “There’s never been so much information available to travelers, and since the industry is competing for every tourist dollar, there are many great deals.

“I call it a traveler’s market.”

The bargains are out there.

“Those who do vacation this summer will find a plethora of attractive discounts and special offers resulting in some outstanding vacation values,” said Robert L. Darbelnet, AAA president and CEO. “If you can afford to go, this summer is a smart time to travel.”

But where to start if you’re looking to save money while enjoying some quality time or family fun in a recession-battered economy? Travel magazines and books contain valuable tips, but the Internet is today’s travel planner of choice, according to industry experts.

A Google search of “saving on summer vacation” brings up 41,600,000 results. Changing “vacation” to “travel” balloons results to 121,000,000. A search of “businesses” and “travel advice” produces 99,500,000.

Bargain-hunters can whittle down the myriad options with specific keywords and knowledge of travel-niche websites.

If you’re going the Google or Yahoo search-engine route, narrow things down. For example, don’t search for “Yosemite lodgings.” Get specific with “discount motels near Yosemite National Park.”

Want to know the price of gas where you’re going? Try www.gasbuddy.com to get a reading in all 50 states. AAA’s www.fuelcostcalculator.com can calculate fuel costs along a given travel route. AAA also has a link to map out the most-direct driving route (www.csaa.com).

One area that was once the near-exclusive domain of AAA is the pre-vacation car checklist-things to do to your motor vehicle to ensure money-saving performance. Now, scores of auto-repair chains, safety organizations and travel groups publish such checklists, but the basics remain the same when it comes to saving on fuel costs:

-Underinflated tires hinder gas mileage, picking your pocket at the gas pump. Keep tires at pressures recommended in your car owner’s manual to improve gas mileage by up to 5%.
-Use the grade of oil recommended in the owner’s manual, and you’ll likely see a 2% improvement in gas mileage.
-Do you really need four sweaters for that weeklong stay on the Monterey Peninsula? Lightening up the luggage will reduce car weight and through-the-air drag, another potential 2% bonus on gas mileage.
-Other fuel-mileage savers include a full-service engine tune-up, easing up on the gas pedal and cutting back on hard-braking maneuvers.

Most car adjustments and safety checks you can do yourself. If you want a professional mechanic to do the job, that’s OK. But check the newspaper and Internet before going to your favorite gas station or auto-service shop. Many have special deals and coupons this time of year.

High gasoline costs have prompted a new wave of ventures designed to help everyone from “staycationers”-those opting for vacations at home or close to home-to long-haul travelers save money at gas pumps.

Petrofix, a newly formed San Francisco company, enables customers to buy gas at a fixed price without locking them in if prices fall.

At www.petrofix.com, customers can quickly buy gas “coverage” at a rate that fits their driving habits. Plans vary in length-three months, six months, a year or longer-and customers can get gas at any station in the nation as usual.

If gas prices go up, Petrofix pays customers the difference by check or credit card at the end of the month. If gas prices go down, customers are not locked into a specific rate and still benefit from lower pump prices.

Roadside-assistance programs have taken some of the worry out of car breakdowns on long-distance car vacations, but not everyone has them. Car repair hundreds of miles from home can bust the travel budget and spoil a vacation. RepairPal is among the recent arrivals offering relief.

Founded in 2007 in Emeryville, Calif., the RepairPal site (www.repairpal.com) provides information on how much you should pay for a specific repair on your vehicle. The database includes more than 173,000 shops nationwide, covering most cars manufactured after 1990. The RepairPal application for iPhone users can be downloaded free at the iPhone App Store.

Car costs are key, but food and lodgings also take big bites out of the vacation budget.

Most travelers know that dinner at Denny’s is going to cost far less than an evening meal at a four-star restaurant. But AAA also noted that many restaurants offer deals for seniors as young as 55, and in some places, children under the age of 12 eat free.

Surfing major restaurant chain sites online typically turns up coupons. Also, when you drive into an unfamiliar town, grab the local newspaper and see if any restaurants are offering deals in their ads. Don’t be afraid to ask the locals about discount dining.

The experts agree on lodgings: Do this planning well in advance, not on the road.

The good news is that decreased summer travel has pumped up the availability of discounted motel/hotel rooms on travel websites, including www.hotels.com. A scan of the site found hundreds of rooms available for $60 or less nationwide, some of them near resort areas.

Other sites go beyond lodgings. Travel-specific sites such as www.travelocity.com, www.orbitz.com, www.expedia.com, www.hotwire.com and www.priceline.com offer bargains on not only rooms, but air travel and rental cars. If your schedule is fluid, these sites feature deep discounts on air/hotel/rental car packages.

Be aware, however: Some travel sites include booking fees and nonrefundable deals. Look carefully at the fine print before clicking on the “purchase” button.

©2009, By Mark Glover, The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.).

According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) more than two-thirds of Americans will fire up their grill, smoker or fryer for the Independence Day holiday this year, the most popular outdoor cooking holiday. Blue Rhino, a leading brand of propane tank exchange, offers some cookout safety & preparation tips for your propane grill, making sure you are ready for your backyard celebration.

Gas Grill Cookout Preparation & Safety Tips:

Make Sure Your Tank is Ready:

- A damaged tank - consumers should not try to repair damaged tanks.
- Obsolete tanks - tanks with round- or star-shaped handwheels do not contain Overfill Prevention Devices (OPD) and can no longer be filled.
- Empty tanks - You can get a fresh, ready to grill tank that includes an OPD.

Transport Your Tank Safely - After you buy your tank, secure it upright in a well-ventilated area of your vehicle. Take it directly to the point of use.

Check for Leaks - When attaching your tank to the grill, use soapy water to check the tank and valve for leaks. Open the valve but leave the appliance off while testing. Don’t use a match or open flame to check for leaks. Blue Rhino includes safety and leak checking information on the side of your tank to help.

Lighting Your Grill - Before lighting, always refer to the grill manufacturer’s safety and operating instructions.

Tank Storage - When you store a tank, be sure to keep it in an upright, vertical position. Never store tanks in a garage, building, or enclosed area. Never store an extra tank under your grill.

For more tips, visit www.bluerhino.com.

Fourth of July entertaining doesn’t have to mean carting out the box of American flag decor and cutesy gadgets with red-white-and-blue everything.

Make your decor go farther by staying away from the flag accessories you can only use once a year. Instead, buy things in solid colors that you could use throughout the year. It’s a great excuse for buying that red vase you’ve been coveting. Or consider mixing it up by varying one of the colors. For instance, we used a light blue instead of a traditional royal blue. And other colors aren’t off-limits: think the yellow of daisies and lemonade.

Cathy Weldon, owner of the Porch in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis, says Fourth of July decor is more sophisticated this year. “People are going toward stuff that’s not so gimmicky. You can use it in different areas of the home throughout the year. In this economy, things have to do double-duty. Solid colors work really well for that.”

You can use these tips to decorate a quiet table on your front porch or several picnic tables at your local park.

Lighting. Don’t forget that at least part of your party will be under the stars (and fireworks!) outdoors. You’ll need outdoor lighting that makes sense. Consider paper lanterns or consider stringing up white or blue Christmas lights.

Centerpiece. A simple vase adorned with hypericum, blue delphinium and white hydrangeas sets the tone for this outdoor party. You could also try daisies or geraniums or a combination of carnations.

Place Settings. You probably have some white plates in your cabinets. Pull them out. Yes, even the fancy ones. We got a set from Home Goods for $6.99 each. Placed on top of a round red placemat ($1.99 each) at Bed, Bath & Beyond, they take on a more casual look. For the tablecloth, we used a couple of yards of light blue drapery fabric from Hancock Fabrics. For the napkins, we made cloth napkins from the same fabric and tied them with red striped ribbon.

Music. Here are some great ideas from evite.com:
1. “Freedom” by George Michael
2. “I’m Free” by The Soup Dragons
3. “Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp
4. “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood
5. “American Girl” by Tom Petty
6. “America” by Neil Diamond
7. “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin
8. “Rockin’ in the Free World” by Neil Young
9. “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie
10. “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Jimi Hendrix

Food. Most people like a good barbecue - hot dogs, burgers, brats - for the Fourth. You could consider an old-fashioned New England-style clambake or simple finger foods instead. Add a little flair to sandwiches by taking various ribbons and wrapping them around toothpicks. Secure with a little hot glue.

For dessert, try a white sheet cake with raspberries and blueberries arranged to resemble an American flag or go light and serve fruit salad in a hollowed-out watermelon.

But remember, it’s hot outside, so be sure your food doesn’t spoil. Keep all perishable food in bowls over ice or in a cooler.

Statement makers:
Cupcakes
For a standout piece on your table, try this cupcake combo. The kids will love the cupcakes baked in red and blue holders ($2.09 for a package of 75 red, blue and yellow) at a cake supply shop. Top with white icing and raspberries (or blueberries).

Next, arrange them on a cake plate and top with fondant stars ($9.99 for the fondant; $2.49 for the star cookie cutters) at Michael’s.

Arrange on top of two cake plates. On the large one ($16.99) at HomeGoods, we threaded a gingham ribbon. We stacked a smaller white cake plate on top ($7.99) at HomeGoods. You could also add a little zing with sparklers, which make dazzling decorations for any cakes or cupcakes.

But think safety first: Be sure to keep them out of children’s hands.

Games. The good thing about the Fourth of July is that the entertainment is often built-in with fireworks displays doing the heavy lifting. But while you are waiting for the sun to set, consider a game of water balloon toss with red, white and blue balloons.

©2009, Amy Bertrand, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

RISMEDIA, June 9, 2009-(MCT)-A big energy hog in the house is the refrigerator, but so is the central air conditioner. Although central air conditioning is on only a few months of the year, the annual cost can be much greater than the annual cost of running your refrigerator.

You can get a very rough idea of what it costs to run your air conditioner by comparing electric bills from a spring month when you aren’t using it and a summer month when you are. Multiply the difference by the number of months you use your air conditioner to arrive at your approximate annual cost.

Replacing an old refrigerator or air conditioner can save you money every time you use it.

For example, if your refrigerator was bought before 1989, it probably costs about $148 a year to operate; a new one will cost $36 a year, under current efficiency standards. If your central air conditioner is more than 10 years old, a new Energy Star-rated one will cost at least one-third less to operate.

In both cases, the savings from improved efficiency will defray, if not completely cover, the cost of buying the appliance.

Information from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, U.S. Department of Energy

RISMEDIA, June 4, 2009-(MCT)-Your teen wants to make money this summer, but jobs are scarce and competition is fierce. So what’s a hopeful young worker to do?

Traditional summer spots, such as working at a summer camp, may already be filled. But other opportunities remain for those with creativity and the will to pound the pavement, experts said.

“They have got to be really tenacious,” said Renee Ward, founder of career site Teens4Hire.org. “There is a lot of talent in the market that business owners can choose from. The younger and the inexperienced are definitely going to be floundering this summer.”

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds hit 21.5% in April, compared with the overall rate of 8.9%, according to the Labor Department.

Teens face such a tough uphill battle during a recession because they have less experience than other workers and are easier for employers to let go, said Harry Holzer, a professor at Georgetown University and former chief economist at the Labor Department. Plus, teens face stiff competition for jobs from older job hunters and immigrants.

“Of all the groups in the labor market, the group that faces the most competition is younger workers,” Holzer said. “The recession has made things much worse.”
Still, there is work to be done this summer, and that means options for younger workers. Here are four key routes for teens to earn income over coming months:

1. Try New Avenues. While there is turnover at traditional employers-restaurants or retailers, for example-teens should think creatively to find summer employment, said Austin Lavin, chief executive of MyFirstPaycheck.com, a job board for teenagers.

“Teenagers understand that the job market is tough this year, and they are being more creative and applying to places they might not have applied to before,” Lavin said. “It’s good to push your boundaries.”

Walking up and down the mall and trying every store just isn’t going to cut it anymore, he said. While filing may not be the height of fun, Lavin suggested that teens also look for work in offices.

Teens who are used to working at higher-end establishments may want to lower their sights a bit this summer.

“Places that are more affordable will be hit less hard during a downturn,” Holzer said. “There’s a lot of turnover at those places even in bad times. So jobs can be identified if people look hard enough.”

2. Internships. Even though jobs are scarce, there may still be an abundance of internships, some of which are paid.

“As the economy started worsening we saw companies were worried over hiring and uncertain about hiring needs,” said Mike Schaub, executive director of the Career Education Center at Georgetown University. “But for summer internships we have not seen a decline in the number. Employers realize that one of the best ways to vet a candidate is an internship.”

Competition for internships is tough, and an inexperienced college freshman may have difficulty getting a professional internship, said Schaub. To keep up with competition, students should use various strategies to find one of these spots.
“Students can use online listings, but that should not be the only way of finding good opportunities. Companies may expect students to go directly to them, and may not post on job boards,” said Schaub.

Unpaid internships can be a good opportunity for teens who don’t need the summer cash, said Holzer. “If folks are in the position to take an unpaid internship where they are learning valuable stuff, this is a good time.”

3. Network. While some students have already found jobs, others will be looking through the summer and may even go into fall, Schaub said. Reaching out to parents and parents’ friends may ease the job hunt, and contacting alumni can be particularly helpful.

“Alumni want to give back to the university. Many students do find work by contacting our alumni. Also, as connections are nurtured, that can turn into opportunities,” he said.

MyFirstPaycheck.com’s Lavin said teens should not be shy about hitting up their folks and their folks’ friends.

“It’s about networking, telling everyone you know you are looking for work,” Lavin said. “A lot of companies are cutting back on costs, but if you have a family friend who runs an office, there might be a chance to do secretarial duties.”

4. Entrepreneurship. Now is a good time for teens to think about what they’re good at, and consider a summer business. “They can be creative and come up with ways to earn money-be a DJ, do garage sales for neighbors, tutor senior citizens on computers,” said Teens4Hire.org’s Ward.

Lavin noted that e-businesses, such as selling items on eBay, may not be the best option for teens without the right background and support: “You have to be very careful when you are starting an online entrepreneurship, but if a teenager has the skill set and support of their parents, online is a good option.”

© 2009, MarketWatch.com Inc.

RISMEDIA, June 1, 2009-Speaking to the National Association of Home Builders Spring Board of Directors Meeting, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will allow homebuyers to apply the Obama Administration’s new $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit toward the purchase costs of a FHA-insured home. Donovan said that this action will help stabilize the nation’s housing market by stimulating home sales across the country.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers homebuyers a tax credit of up to $8,000 for purchasing their first home. Families can only access this credit after filing their tax returns with the IRS. This announcement details FHA’s rules allowing state Housing Finance Agencies and certain non-profits to ‘monetize’ up to the full amount of the tax credit (depending on the amount of the mortgage) so that borrowers can immediately apply the funds toward their down payments. Home buyers using FHA-approved lenders can apply the tax credit to their down payment in excess of 3.5% of appraised value or their closing costs, which can help achieve a lower interest rate.

“We believe this is a real win for everyone,” said Donovan. “The Obama Administration is taking another important step toward accelerating the recovery of the nation’s housing market. Families will now be able to apply their anticipated tax credit toward their home purchase right away. At the same time we are putting safeguards in place to ensure that consumers will be protected from unscrupulous lenders. What we’re doing will not only help these families to purchase their first home but will present an enormous benefit for communities struggling to deal with an oversupply of housing.”

Currently, borrowers applying for an FHA-insured mortgage are required to make a minimum 3.5% downpayment on the purchase of their home. Current law does not permit approved lenders to monetize the tax credit to meet the required 3.5% minimum down payment, but, under the terms of this announcement, lenders can now monetize the tax credit for use as additional down payment, or for other closing costs, which can help achieve a lower interest rate. Buyers financing through state Housing Finance Agencies and certain non-profits will be able to use the tax credit for their downpayments via secondary financing provided by the HFA or non-profit. In addition to the borrower’s own cash investment, FHA allows parents, employers and other governmental entities to contribute towards the downpayment. This action permits the first-time homebuyer’s anticipated tax credit under the Recovery Act to be applied toward the family’s home purchase right away. Unlike seller-funded down-payment assistance, which was a vehicle for abuse, this program will allow homebuyers to shop for the best home price and services using their anticipated tax credit.

According to estimates by the National Association of Home Builders, the Administration’s homebuyer tax credit will stimulate 160,000 home sales across the nation- 101,000 of which will be first-time buyers who will receive the credit. Another 59,000 existing homeowners will be able to buy another home because a first-time buyer purchased their home. Given FHA’s current market share, it’s estimated that thousands of families will be able to purchase a home by allowing the anticipated tax credit to be applied toward their purchase together with an FHA-insured mortgage.

Homebuyers should beware of mortgage scams and carefully compare benefits and costs when seeking out tax credit monetization services. Programs will vary from organization to organization and borrowers should consider whether the services make sense for them, as well as what company offers the most suitable and affordable option.

For every FHA borrower who is assisted through the tax credit program, FHA will collect the name and employer identification number of the organization providing the service as well as associated fees and charges. FHA will use this information to track the business closely and will refer any questionable practices to the appropriate regulatory agencies, as necessary.

For more information, visit www.hud.gov.

 RISMEDIA, May 19, 2009-Nearly forty million drivers are expected to fill highways and byways this coming holiday weekend according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Memorial Day weekend is the third most perilous holiday for vehicular traffic. Thanksgiving holds the number one spot, with Independence Day at number two. Labor Day and New Year’s Eve round out the top five.

Radarsign, one of the leading manufacturers and retailers of driver feedback signs, released ten tips to road safety as vacationers get read to hit the streets.

1. Don’t drive drowsy. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Report on Drowsy Driving, 100,000 reported crashes, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths every year are attributed to drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Add to that heavy holiday traffic and you have a recipe for disaster. If you are feeling drowsy, get off the road.
2. Wear your seat belt. The Department of Transportations (DOT) reports 50% of all vehicular deaths could have been prevented with seat belts.
3. Signal your intentions. Every move you make on the road impacts the decisions and actions of others. By signaling your intention to turn or change lanes, you ensure others are alert to your movements.
4. Do not tailgate. Leave a distance equal to one car’s length for every ten miles per hour. For example, if you are traveling fifty miles an hour, you should fall back a distance equal to five car lengths from the vehicle in front of you.
5. Move away from tailgaters. Many drivers attempt to “teach” a lesson to tailgaters by tapping their brakes telling the other driver to back off. Tailgaters typically exercise poor judgment and endanger themselves and others - especially when challenged. The best thing to do is move out of the way and let the tailgater safely pass you.
6. Avoid standing water. If you must drive through water, do so slowly and avoid sudden use of your brakes, turning too sharply or excessive acceleration. If you do hydroplane (an instance where the tread cannot channel the rainwater from under your tires), do not hit the brakes. Reduce your speed by taking your foot off the accelerator and turning the wheel in the direction you want to travel.
7. Know pedestrian rights. Always be aware of pedestrians at intersections and remember pedestrians have the right of way.
8. Turn on your headlights when visibility is low. The sobering statistic is that while only 25% of the miles we drive are at night, about 50% of the fatalities occur in the darkness-25,000 people each year.
9. Obey the speed limit. A difference of only five miles an hour can be the difference between life and death.
10. Stay alert. Talking on a cell phone, texting, reading maps - even listening to voice-directed GPS systems - can distract you from the road and lead to accidents.

For more information, visit www.radarsign.com.

RISMEDIA, May 12, 2009-Whether you’ve been hit hard by the recession or not, kids and families may be reeling from the effects of the troubled times without a frame of reference for how tough it is out there. 

Arun Abey, former Wall Street figure and author of the book “How Much is Enough?” believes that parents don’t just need to teach their kids about finances, but also about the balance between money and quality of life.

Abey offers some basic tips for families who want to get themselves - and their kids - smart about financial matters.

-Don’t Let Money Be Invisible. Today, money comes out of ATMs and is spent via debit cards and credit cards - invisible to kids as to where it comes from and where it goes.
-Give Kids Responsibility for Spending. One of the ways to get kids to learn how to manage money is by placing them in charge of their discretionary spending. If they receive an allowance, parents should require their kids to record how it’s spent.
-Teach the Power of Investment. Parents should help their kids set up a savings account, but then explain the value of investment. For example, a simple investment of $100 in a basic savings account can result in a balance of $12,000 after 20 years.
-For Love or Money? Most families try to direct their children toward high-earning careers, such as medicine, high finance or business management. However, there is an alternative method that directs children toward career paths that stress their passions. This path stresses lasting fulfillment over financial rewards, even though, in many cases, people wind up with both by following this path.

RISMEDIA, April 29, 2009-With distressed sales accounting for half of all home sales, many home sellers are finding that traditional sales are competing with discounted prices offered by foreclosed properties and short sales in their local area. To help home sellers attract buyers and compete against the discounted prices offered by distressed properties, here are some tips and advice:

Price the Home Correctly: Home sellers need to price their home according to today’s market and not based on the high price that a neighbor might have received a few years ago. Your Realtor will help today’s sellers price their home accurately based on recent sales activity.

Market the Home More Effectively: Traditional home sellers have access to more marketing channels than distressed properties, since not all distressed properties are found on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), or by popular websites like Realtor.com.  Your Realtor knows how and where to market your property and show it in its best light..

Keep the Home in Top Condition: Foreclosed homes are typically in disrepair and are in need of some repair or renovation after having been left vacant. It can easily cost a new owner tens of thousands of dollars and months of work to get the home back in shape. A home seller should stage their home to give it the appearance of being in “move-in” condition. The house, as well as all closets, should be kept clean and free of clutter to create the appearance of a more spacious home. Sellers can make their home stand out by doing things like landscaping the front yard to improve curb appeal, replacing worn-out carpets and old appliances, applying new paint in key interior rooms, and tackling other minor home improvement projects. Your Realtor can advice you on what home improvements to make.

Offer a Quick Closing: An advantage of being a conventional home seller is being able to offer a quick closing, often an advantage for buyers who wish to move quickly. Distressed properties can take many months to reach a closing date. Sellers should be prepared to offer a 30-day closing date to attract buyers who want to move quickly.

RISMEDIA, April 16, 2009-AAA, one of the nation’s largest leisure travel organizations, is suggesting budget-minded consumers seize this summer’s travel bargains as similar savings may not be available in the future.

Now is the time to separate general economic anxiety from personal financial reality. “Given all of the negative economic news of the past six months and our society’s newfound frugality, some otherwise well-off consumers are feeling a little awkward or uneasy about leisure travel this year,” said Doug Bower, vice president of AAA Travel and Financial Services. “For this reason, AAA wants to remind consumers there may never be a better time to travel than this summer.

By carefully assessing our individual economic circumstances and personal travel situation, many of us may realize traveling this year should not be seen as a guilty pleasure, but as something we should get out and enjoy. By going now, we also will be doing our part to get America’s economy moving again.”

AAA’s recommends a quick financial check and a companion “travel needs assessment” before deciding whether to take an extended vacation this summer.

Consumers should consider whether they are:
-One of the estimated 90% of homeowners who are consistently on-time with their mortgage payments, or are always on-time with their rent;
-Among those who have access to some emergency cash to protect against an unexpected financial setback;
-A borrower with a responsible credit history;
-Steadily working on other life-time financial goals, such as student tuitions and/or retirement savings;
-Have a history of steady employment with fairly predictable earnings or have a reliable fixed income;
-Have been able to afford and pay for leisure travel experiences with little difficulty in the past

AAA believes millions of Americans can positively answer these questions, providing reasonable assurance that a vacation trip - even an overseas journey, extended cruise or adventurous package tour - is definitely within reach this year.

Travel decisions are not always about dollars and cents
AAA further suggests travelers may want to self-evaluate their emotional need to travel this year.

The Association’s “Travel Needs Assessment” asks about recent or upcoming life experiences and travel patterns, including:

-Has it been more than 18 months since my last significant vacation?
-When I traveled last, did I bring work or family pressures with me?
-Have my recent travel experiences been to predictable and familiar destinations?
-Have I experienced a loss or other major change in my life that challenged my emotions?
-Am I about to mark a major milestone such as a birthday, graduation, anniversary or career change?
-Have I missed significant occasions when I should have celebrated or rewarded myself?
-Is there a family member or friend that is owed a long-overdue visit?

“Would-be travelers that answer ‘yes’ to any or several of these questions should make travel a high priority budget item this year,” Bower said. “We all need to refresh and renew our emotional well-being from time to time. A trip that is all about relaxation, expanding personal horizons, marking a special or significant occasion or time with family and friends is an excellent method of doing so.